A Cowpony's Past

The wind was blowing hard outside causing much of the dust on the roads to follow the breeze. This mattered none to sheriff Silver Star. He sat in his office which doubled as Appleloosa’s temporary jail.  The town’s crime rate has been nothing closer than absolute zero.  He was actually beginning to wonder why he even had a job then he remembered the not quite filly, not quite mare sitting in the cell across from his office.

The pony, same colour as Silver Star, sulked in his tiny room.  Silver couldn’t help, but empathize for the kid. She was so young and already committing crimes. Plus, by the looks  of it, didn’t even have her cutie mark. She was too far along to be a late bloomer...maybe she just didn’t have a talent, thought Silver. No…that couldn’t be it, right? Shaking the thought out of his head, Silver grabbed the kid’s folder.

He looked it over thoroughly before speaking, “No name, huh?”

The mare simply turned away from Silver.

“Hmm, looks like you were caught trying to steal from a merchant and tripped over you own tail which I say is a little…unkept.”

The mare, ignoring Silver, hopped on the suspended bed in the cell and covered herself in the brown covers.

Silver knew one way to get her to respond, yet it may have been unconventional, “I also see that you…don’t have a cutie mark…”

“HEY! Listen, old man! Can’t you see ah’m trying to sleep.” The mare’s voice was soft, but stern. Hardened with years of misfortune. “Plus, my trial is in the morning. I believe I deserve this last moment of good sleep.”

The mare then proceeded to roughly cover her head with the covers. She had ended the conversation and Silver couldn’t do anything about it, yet he wasn’t the type of stallion to just drop matters.  Especially one where a mare of such a young age was in need of…no…needed to be set of the right path. He’d simply wait till the time was right, and by his watch, the time was close.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No more than an hour passed and the stomach of the inmate began to rumble, loudly.  She began to remember how she got caught. She was stealing an apple from a golden stallion. She hadn’t eaten for two days before. So close was she from getting away, but her stupid tail tripped her causing her precious cargo to fall from her bag. The merchant saw and she was immediately hauled off the jail. Now, she was ached for food.

“That’s the sound I was waiting for.” She heard the sheriff’s voice say, “And I brought apple pie.”

“Go away,old man.” she responded as her stomach growled.

“It seems some part of ya doesn’t want me to.”

“Just give me some pie and leave…” The inmate uncovered herself and walked to the cell entrance.  She noticed it was now dark and the sheriff was carrying a candle.

“No pie. Well not until you do something for me.” The sheriff said. He placed a slice of pie just out of reach for the inmate.

“Are you some pervert?” She began backing away, “And I’m not that type of mare.”

Silver pushed the pie closer, and as soon as the inmate could grab it she did. She was about dive in, but the Silver coughed, showing her a fork which she took and began eating. The pie wasn’t the best, but she didn’t care as long as she ate something.

“And ah’m not that type of stallion.” Silver said, cutting himself a piece of pie, “I just want to know your name.”

“No…now more pie.”

Silver did what she commanded and handed her more pie. At the rate she was eating, maybe her cutie mark was eating pie. He chuckled to himself as he took a bite of pie. He immediately spat it out. He should have never tried to bake.The inmate, who he now dubbed kid, seemed content with his pie. That made him a little happy. If only there was some way to get this mare to open up, he could possibly save her from her upcoming fate. Apploosan court isn’t known for its tolerance of thieves. He had another Idea coming and could only hope it worked.

“Hey, kid.” Silver said, “Mind if I told ya story?”

The kid’s ear perked up. She hadn’t heard a story in…she didn’t know how long and see wasn’t going to miss it. “Alright, old man. As long as the pie keeps a coming, you can tell your little story.”

“You can call me Sheriff Silver Star.”

“Hmm…nah…Old man works better. More pie!”

“Alright,  and until you tell me your name, ‘Kid’ works  too. Deal?”

“Deal. Now tell your story!”

“Alright, ah’m starting. It takes place not so long ago because ah’m not that old...”

I was about your age when I wandered in this one horse town. Both you and I were almost in the same postion: Cold, hungry, alone, and without our cutie mark. Only difference was that I didn’t resort to theft. I wanted to make something of myself...just didn't know how. I had about two bits to ma name and decided to use it at the local tavern which wasn’t as nice as it is now. It was filled with the entire all the low down and dirty scum any pony could imagine.  Anyway, I entered and was scared for my life, but managed to make it to the bar.

“Uhh…hello…what can I get for two bits?” I asked. I was young so my voice still cracked.

“Hello, young buck!” The bartender was a little over enthusiastic, “Hmm two bits…I can give ya some cheap cider. Nasty tasty, but it’ll do the trick. A little too well for its price.”

The cider came quick and so did my drunken stupor. TO this day I wonder why no one questioned my age. I can barely remember a thing, but from what I can remember, the bartender kept pouring me cider, and I happily kept drinking.  Next thing I know, the mayor comes in and starts drinking with me!

“What kind of story is this?” asked Kid.

“Well, it’s my story.” Answered Silver.

“It’s boring. Get to the action part or tell a better story. Also, MORE PIE!”

I was so happy. First day in this new town and I already made friends with the mayor and the bartender. Shoulda known it was a trap…

“Three cheers for our new friend!” the mayor yelled. OF course, no one cheered. I didn’t care though.

“Y..y..you guys…aaare…fuun.” I stuttered.

“SO are you…hey…you’re new and I’m guessing you need a job.” The Mayor stated. I couldn't lift my cup to my mouth, so he helped me.

“A job! Wow. I’ll take it!”

The Mayor then brought out a piece of paper which I signed without reading. Then, I felt a prick on my chest. When I looked down, I saw a sheriff’s badge attached to my vest. I looked back up, the Mayor and bartender smiled, and a random hoof hit me in the face. I woke up on the outskirts of town with a black eye, a splitting headache, and a note attached to my snout that said,

“Welcome to Apploosa, sheriff. Enjoy your short stay.”

I got up, brushed myself off, and made way for my office. (This exact same office I might add.) Now, the walk to town wasn’t exactly the nicest. It was hot…dusty…and ponies kept laughing at me.  The worst part was when I saw them taking bets of how long I would last. No, the worst part was when the morgue worker began taken my measurements for a casket.  After the humiliating walk, I finally made it to my office

“Look who finally made it home!” said the Mayor, “Glad to know those ruffians didn’t scare you off.”

“What the buck did you do to me?!” I grabbed the mayor by his vest and lifted him against the wall.  Ah’m the sheriff, woke up in a ditch, and apparently there’s a casket with my name on it.”

“Well you see Mr…”

“Silver Star.”

“Mr. Star. Our town has a problem with crime…and keeping sheriffs around. Every one that comes either runs off or ends up…dead.”

“So you gave the job to a wandering young stallion who doesn’t have any credentials or cutie mark.”

“As long as the position is filled, we hope the crime rate will decrease… hopefully. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

I let him off the wall, and he adjusted his vest.  I wanted to say something else, but couldn’t find the words. The Mayor left without another. He slammed the door causing months of dust to fly…A that moment I decided that I would take this job and do it to my best ability-

“This sounds familiar. Are ya sure it’s your story?” Kid asked interrupting the story again, “Ah’m pretty sure it’s the plot to another story I heard or it’s really cheesy.”

“Shush, and let me continue.” Silver commanded, sliding away a pie tin, “Or no more pie.”

“Okay, continue…”

Within two days time, my office was clean, ponies had lost their life expectancy bet’s, and I even caught my first criminals.  Two little fillies, no older than 12, were arguing in the middle of the street. I had to arrest their parents for fighting. (How did I break up the fight? Let’s just say my jaw still hurts to this day.)

I had proven that I could stand up for myself. Well, to an extent, anyway. Other criminals weren’t so easy to apprehend, but after many bruises, black eyes, claw marks, multiple  pies to the face , and broken bones, I managed to wipe some grim off this town. Luckily no one hit my face, my handsome face.

“You’re not handsome, old men.”

“Shush, my wife thinks I am.”

“Well she’s a very good liar.”

Now don’t get me wrong, Crime wasn't completely eliminated. By Celestia, it wasn't gone. Not even close. Crime was still happening left and right, sometimes in front of my office. I had earned the criminal’s respect, yet not enough to actually make them not do crime. All in all, I did a better job than most sheriffs.  I believed I deserved a treat, so I went to the bar .I sat there drinking root bear and watching a Pegasus and griffon duke it out. (Quite the spectacle. Very acrobatic and flexible.) As the Griffon went to throw a punch, the doors to the bar flew open, and in walked a cowpony more frightening than anypony else. The fight stopped, so he could walk to the bar. Ponies backed away to protect themselves from his wrath. The bar tender even poured him a free drink. I couldn’t help ,but shake in my boots.

“Who was this outlaw?” Kid asked

“None other than Bony legs…” Silver shivered.

“You mean that skinny criminal from long ago. The one who couldn’t have weighed more than a feather?”

“Shush…what he lacked in physical power, he made up in ruthlessness

He walked up to the bar, grabbed his free drink, and chugged it down without mercy. Immediately, it was refilled by the bar tender.  He went to grab it again, but the shimmer of my badge made him turn his head. He smiled his toothless smile and said, “So you’re the new sheriff. HA! You’re no more than colt…with no cutie mark!!”

It might have been the cider, but I opened my big mouth. “And you’re nothing more than bones and skin. How do ya even walk? I bet when a soft breeze comes around, you have to grab onto the nearest object just not to get blown away.”

At that moment…the bar went completely silent. I heard somepony drop a glass, and it shattered. Bony looked at me; his face burning with rage.  He grabbed me by the collar, and looked me in the eyes. His eye veins were growing.  “Meet me outside…in ten minutes.” He got up from his chair, and exited the building. The patrons in the bar watched him leave, and then stared at me.  Of course, I kept my cool, but internally, I was scared. I waited the allotted time before heading out.

“Hey!! We are out of pie ,old man!”

“Well wait…I’m almost done telling my story.”

“I don’t care. That’s the only reason I’m listening anyway. More PIE!”

“I don’t have any more…uh…how about fruit?”

“Hmm…alright…continue your story.”

We stood at the middle of town. The dust blew with the wind. A random tumble weed rolled through the middle of us. (I never understood why that always happened.) Ponies lined up on either side to watch.  Some were excited while other s were frightened.

“Ready to pay, little pony.” Bony yelled.

“Yeah…I guess, “The cider still coursed in my veins, “Right after you tell me what’s going on.”

“Are you that dense? A showdown! Now, pickup your pie. When the next hour hits, we’re gonna throw em at each other. If ya get hit, ya lose. Understand? ”

“I think so…” Just that second, the clock struck the next hour. Bony, quicker than I thought, grabbed a pie and chucked it straight in my face. (It was peach flavor.)Bony laughed and began walking away. My pride was broken, but I wasn’t going to that pony go. I went to say something, but first had to lick the pie out my face, “Where do you think youre going? Im not done with you!”

“Listen, sheriff. You don’t stand a chance against me.  I’m too quick, and too good. Listen, I’ll make ya a deal. I’ll come back every day, and we’ll have a standoff. The conditions are until you win, you cant stop any criminal activity. Deal?”

“Deal!” Once again, the cider was talking.

Without boring you, let’s just say the crime rate rose sharply. What can I say?  Bony had a good arm. A month passed, many different pies in my face, and crime never stopping, I was no closer to defeating Bony than when I started. He was too good and I…too new. I remember I came close to hitting him, but…no…another pie in my face.

“Give it up, kid. This is my element. You’ll never win.”

I walked away, not saying a word, with pie dripping off my face. It was his element. Then it hit me. Throughout the standoffs, we never changed. Same time, same distance, same everything.  That’s when I decided to change the game.

“What did you do?”

“If you let me finish, you’ll know.”

“Alright…”

The next day, Bony walked into town and got in his regular spot, his pies piping hot and ready to throw. The funny part was…I was nowhere in sight.  He waited and I never came.  So then…

A knock on the door stopped Silver Star from telling his story. He looked towards the door and was blinded by the sun. He lifted his hoof to his eyes to block the rays.

“Celestia Dammit…who is it?” Silver asked.

“It’s the bailiff. The trial is in fifteen minutes. We need you to escort the prisoner.”

“Alright.” Silver got up and put on his hat, “Ready, kid?”

“Before we go, tell me how the story ends!” Kid ordered.

“I hit him in the face with a pie. What else? Put him in jail and everything.”

“Let me guess… then you got your cutie mark…” sighed Kid.

"Yep." Silver looked at his cutie mark.

“That’s it? What did you hope to accomplish by telling me your story?”

“Maybe give ya hope, so you can change or something.”

“Well it didn’t work…”

“I was never a good story teller.…now let me make you a deal. Tell me your name and I’ll see what I can do to help you out this mess.”

Kid rose from her bed and walked to the cell bars. She looked Silver in the eyes and sighed. “Are ya sure you can help?”

When Silver nodded, she took a deep breath. “My name is Lone. Lone Star. I left home to find my cutie mark…and ended up in this mess. Are ya happy?”

“Yes, now let’s see what we can clean up you mess, shall we?”

Silver reached into his pocket, and pulled out a key. He then proceeded to unlock the cell, and, with a smile, reached his hoof in.  Lone looked at his hoof for a while, unsure whether to trust the sheriff or not. Ultimately, she grabbed his hoof, and hoisted herself up.

“Just don’t mess this up."